Metal-working



(No l lodeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. BASSLER.

METAL WORKING.

No. 501,038. Patented July 4, 1893.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. H. BASSLBR.

METAL WORKING. I No. 501,038. Patented July 4, 1893'.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Shet 3.

J. H. BASSLER.

METAL WORKING. I No. 501,038. Patented July 4, 1893.

2 Eh "\I A 9 i Suva/M 601 772. 6. 77ZMZ I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN H. BASSLER, OF MYERSTOVVN, PENNSYLVANIA.

METAL-WORKING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,038, dated July 4,1893.

Application filed December 23, 1892. serial No. 456,116. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN, H. BASSLER, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Myerstown, in the county of Lebanon and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMethods of and Apparatus for Uniting Metals, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawlngs.

My invention relates to an improved method of and apparatus for unitingmetals.

The invention consists, broadly, in heating the materials along theirjoint, then pouring molten aluminum or aluminum alloy into the joint,and finally passing an electric current transversely through the joint.

The invention consists, further, in heating the materials by means of anelectric current, then pouring aluminum or aluminum alloy into thejoint, and finally causing the electric current to flow through thealuminum or aluminum alloy and the adjacent materials.

The invention consists, further, in heating the materials by a pair ofelectric arcs, one on each side of the joint, then pouring aluminum oraluminum alloy into the joint.

The invention consists, further, in coating the materials to be unitedwith a layer of carbon, then heating the materials, and finally pouringmolten aluminum or aluminum alloy into the joint.

The invention consists further of an apparatus well adapted for carryingout my method.

The object of my invention is to provide means for uniting large platesof metal, particularly in ship-building where the joints of thematerials lie in vertical planes, being either horizontal or vertical.

In carrying out my method I first heat the materials at one end of thejoint by means of a pair of electrodes; then I pour molten aluminum oraluminum alloy, or fine aluminum filings, or aluminum alloy filings,into the joint where heated, and at the same time move the electrodesforward along the joint, thereby continuously heating the materials,while also causing the current to divide, a portion of the currentpassing through the aluminum or aluminum. alloy and aiding in thecombination of the iron and aluminum.

This will be better understood after a description of the apparatus andits operation.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved apparatus. Fig.2 is a vertical sectional view on the line m 0:, Figs. 1 and 3. Fig. 3is a horizontal sectional View on the line y 3 Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, A is a main frame, consisting of cross-ties1, on which are secured sills 2, provided with V-shaped rails or ways 3on their upper surfaces. Posts 4 carry plates 5 and tie-beams 6, theupper surfaces of the plates having rails or ways 7. Longitudinallymovable in this main frame is a vertical frame B, consisting ofbase-beams 8 adapted to slide on the ways 3, and carrying verticalsupports 9, on which rest top beams 10, adapted to slide on the ways 7,the top beams being connected by cross-pieces 12. This vertical frame ismoved in the main frame by means of endless screws 0 passing throughthreaded openings in the base beams and top beams, being journaled onthe main frame at each end, as shown at 13, and connected so as to movesynchronously by sprocket wheels 1a and chains 15, the whole series ofscrews being operated by means of a band-wheel 16, driven by a belt fromany source of power.

The vertical supports 9 are provided with ways 17, in which move anupper horizontal frameD and a lower horizontal frame E, each frameconsisting of a pair of slide-beams 18 connected by a pair ofcross-braces 19, the vertical distance between the frames beingadjustable by means of short vertical screws F, j ournaled in the lowerframeE and passing through threaded openings in the upper frame I),these screws being revolved by means of gear-wheels 20, secured to theirlower ends and meshing with gear-wheels 21 journaled in the lower frameand provided with feathers which engage slots in the vertical shafts G,the latter being journaled in the vertical frame B and adapted to berotated as desired by gearing on top of the said frame, which will bemore fully described hereinafter.

Both the horizontal frames D and E are synchronously movable in avertical direction on the ways 17 by means of a series of verticalendless screws H, each stepped upon one of the base-beams S, passingthrough a threaded opening in the slide-beam 18 of the lower frame E,thence loosely through an openingin the slide-beam of the upper frame D,and journaled in the top beam 10, being provided with suitable gearingat its upper end, as will be described hereinafter.

To the slide-pieces of the upper frame D are pivoted links I, havingforked outer ends, pivoted to links J, which are pivotallysecured to theslide-pieces of the lower frame E. In the outer ends of the links istrunnioned an electro-motor K, having an armature-shaft 22, adapted tobe reciprocated by an electromagnet L attached to the motor-frame by astandard 23. The armature-shaft carries a pair of electrodes 24,attached to the outer ends of a cross-bar 25, and adjustable thereon. Ashield 26 of iron is secured to the armature-shaft, and between theshield and the motor is inserted a spring 27, which tends to force thearmature-shaft outward when the electro-magnet L is demagnetized.

On one of the trunnions of the meter is fixed a sprocket-wheel 28,connected by a chain 29 to a sprocket-wheel 30, revoluble on the pivotof one of the lower links J, as shown, this sprocket-wheel 30 beingrotated by means of a worm-wheel 31 fixed to it, and actuated bya worm32, journaled at 33 on the cross-brace l9, and provided with a handwheel34. It is apparent that by turning the hand-wheel the motor, and with itthe electrodes, may be rotated in a vertical plane on the trunnions.

To the cross-braces 19 of the lowerframe E are attached arms 35, to eachof which alazytongs frame M is secured, as at 36, the frames beingextensible by means of screws 37 provided with hand-wheels 38. At theouter end of each frame M is secured a pouring cup N, open on its topside 39 and outer side 4:0,and below the electrodes. Across the arms areplaced boards or planks 41 on which the operator may stand if desiredand on which the crucible 0 may be placed.

The upper ends of the vertical screws 11 are provided with gear-wheels42, in mesh with wheels 43, which are loose upon vertical shafts G, andare fixed to bevel gearwheels 44:, also loose upon shafts G. These bevelwheels intermesh with bevel-pinions 45 mounted on a shaft 46 on which isfixed a friction-wheel 47, shaft 46 beingjournaled in frames P.

011 the top ends of the vertical shafts G are secured bevel-gear wheels48, into which mesh pinions 49 on a shaft 50 providedwithafriction-wheel 51.

R is a horizontal shaft running the entire length of the machine andjournaled on the main-frame at 52, being provided with a suitableband-wheel 53, to which motion is transmitted by a belt from any sourceof power. On shaft R is loosely mounted a frictiondrum S, adapted toslide longitudinally on the shaft with the longitudinal movement of thevertical frame B. The shaft R is slotted and the drum S provided with asuitable feather, whereby when the shaft R is rotated the drum S will bealso revolved.

To transmit motion from the friction-drum to the friction-wheel 47 asdesired, an idlerwheel 54 is provided, being mounted in a fork 56pivoted on the shaft 46 and provided with a lever 57 to which a rope 58is attached, whereby the idler-friction-wheel 54- may be pulled intocontact with both the revolving friction-drum S and the friction wheel47, thus rotating the latter.

Friction-wheel 51 is rotated from the friction-drum S by an idlerfriction-wheel 59 mounted in a forked frame 60 having a lever 61 towhich is attached a rope 62, the forked frame 60 being pivoted on shaft-50.

It is apparent that by turning the handwheel 34 the motor K and with itthe electrodes 24:, may be turned in a vertical plane, revolving on themotor trunnions. By pulling on the rope 58 the idler wheel 54: willtransmit motion from the drum S to the friction wheel &7, therebyrevolving the endless screws H and raising the two frames D and Esychronously, andat the same time raising the motor and electrodes. Byreversing the direction of rotation of pulley 53 it is obvious that theframes D and E and with them the motor will be lowered. By pulling downon rope 62, the idler-wheel 59 will transmit motion from the drum S tothe friction-wheel5l,revolving the latter, and with it the verticalshafts G, thereby actuating the screws F, altering the distance apart ofthe frames D and E and drawing in the motor and electrodes. By reversingthe direction of rotation of pulley 53, the motor will be pushed out.

WVhen power is applied to pulley 16, frame B will be movedlongitudinally in frame A, according to the direction of rotation ofsaid pulley.

It is apparent that by this apparatus the electrodes may be brought tobear upon all points requisite in heating materials, eitheralongavertical jointoralongahorizontaljoint, whether these joints bestraight or curved as in the curved side of a vessel. As the materialsbecome heated, the cup N is pushed up so as to cover that part of thejoint which has been heated. Then the operator, standing on the platformll, dips the molten aluminum or alloy from the crucible O and pours itinto the cup N, from whence it runs into the joint, a refractorymaterial, such as firebrick, being placed behind the joint to preventthe molten aluminum or alloy from running out of the joint. WVhile themolten aluminum is being poured into the joint, the electrodes areslowly moved forward and the current which flows from one electrodethrough the materials and up through the other electrode will form anare on each side of the joint, and will also divide when traversing thematerials according to the resistance it meets, therefore mostly flowingacross the joint at the place where the molten aluminum or alloy hasbeen poured. This current thus flowing through the molten aluminum oralloy and through the materials causes the mutual interpenetration ofthe molecules, forming a complete union of the particles of materialsand aluminum or alloy. To insure this transportative action in eachdirection it is better to alternate the current through the joint, andthis I do by oscillating the electrodes by means of the motor K, whichis adapted to rotate its armature half a revolution in one direction andthen back in the other direction, the armature-shaft being also adaptedto reciprocate by means of the electro-magnet L, in the same manner andby the same construction described in my application, Serial No.453,716. As fast as the electrodes are moved forward the cup N is alsoadvanced, the aluminum or alloy rapidly cooling behind it and unitingthe materials into a solid mass. It will be seen that the operation isthus conducted continuously from one end of the joint to the other, itbeing necessary at the extreme end of the joint to stop thereciprocation of the electrodes and hold themdown on the materials whilestill oscillating them, thereby extinguishing the arcs, yet keeping themolten aluminum or alloy still hot by the action of the current and atthe same time continuing the transportative action until the particlesof materials and aluminum or alloy have been combined to the desiredextent.

I find it advisable when uniting materials by my method, to first coatthe materials along the joint with a layer of carbon, consisting ofpulverized gas-carbon and some sticky material, such as molasses, whichprevents the heated materials from being oxidized, the molten aluminum,when poured into the joint, driving out the carbon and uniting directlywith the materials. Furthermore, the carbonpaste forms the molecularmaterial which keeps up the arcs, thus protecting the mate rials fromthe action of the arcs.

While I have more particularly mentioned the use of molten aluminum ormolten aluminum alloy in carrying out my method, yet it is apparent thatwhen the materials have been heated to the desired temperature I maypour into the joint fine filings of aluminum or aluminum alloy insteadof the molten matter, and the filings will be almost immediately fusedand will effect the same result as the molten aluminum.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A method of uniting metals, which consists in heating the materialsto be united, then pouring aluminum or aluminum alloy into the joint ofthe materials, and finally passing an electric current through thematerials and through the aluminum or alloy.

2. A method of uniting metals, which con= sists in first heating thematerials to be united,

then pouring molten aluminum or aluminum alloy into the joint of thematerials, and finally passing an electric current through the materialsand through the molten aluminum or alloy.

3. A method of uniting metals, which consistsin first heating thematerials to be united by an electric current, and while the current isstill flowing, pouring aluminum or aluminum alloy into the joint.

4. A method of uniting metals, which consists in first heating thematerials to be united by an alternating current, and while the currentis still flowing, pouring molten aluminum or aluminum alloy into thejoint.

5. A method of uniting metals, which con- I sists in first heating thematerials to be united by a pair of electric arcs, and then pouringmolten aluminum or aluminum alloy into the joint.

6. A method of uniting metals, which consists in first coating thematerials to be united with a layer of carbon, then electrically heatingsaid materials, and finally pouring aluminum or aluminum alloy into thejoint of the materials.

7. A method of uniting metals, which 0011- sistsin first coating thematerials to be united with a layer of carbon, then electricallyheatingsaid materials, and finally pouring molten aluminum or aluminum alloyinto the joint of the materials.

8. A method of uniting metals, which consists in first coating thematerials to be united with a layer of carbon,then heating saidmaterials by an electric current, and finally, while the current isstill flowing, pouring molten aluminum or aluminum alloy into the jointof the materials.

9. A method of uniting metals, which consists in first coating thematerials to be united with a layer of carbon, then heating saidmaterials by an electric are on each side of the joint, and finally,while the arcs are still in use, pouring molten aluminum or aluminumalloy into the joint of the materials.

10. In an apparatus of the class described, a pair of horizontal frames,a pair of links pivoted to each frame, an electric motor trunnioned inthe outer ends of both pairs of links, and means for adjusting thevertical distance apart of the horizontal frames, whereby the motor maybe moved in a horizontal plane.

11. In an apparatus of the class described, a vertical frame providedwith vertical slideways, a pair of horizontal frames, means for movingsaid frames synchronously in the slideways, a pair of links pivoted toeach frame, an electro-motor trunnioned in the ends of both pairs oflinks, and means for adjusting the vertical distance between thehorizontal frames.

12. In an apparatus of the class described, a main-frame, a verticalframe having verti cal slideways, means for moving said vertical framelongitudinally in the main-frame, a

pair of horizontal frames, means for moving said horizontal framessynchronously in the vertical slideways, a pair of links pivoted to eachhorizontal frame, means for adjusting the vertieal'distanee between thehorizontal frames, an electric motor trunnioned in the outer ends ofboth pairs of links, and means for rotating the motor on its trunnions,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth. 10

In testimony whereof I a'lfix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN II. BASSLER. Witnesses:

WM. HUNTER MYERS, M. 0. MAssIE.

